SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Jack Fisher saddled Smart Uncle to win the G2, $150,000, 2 3/8 mile A.P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap on Aug. 5 at Saratoga race track.
Smart Uncle, left. outduels Roja Redemption, Fil Dor, grey nose far right, finishing fast on the inside in the Smithwick (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr. and ridden by Jamie Bargary, Smart Uncle won by 3/4 length over Fil Dor, trained by Ricky Hendriks, and Roja Redemption, also trained by Fisher.
Mrs. Johnston bought Smart Uncle in 2024 from owner/breeder George Strawbridge, and since taking over the training Fisher has swapped Smart Uncle back and forth from flat to hurdle races.
Fisher prepped the 6-year-old Uncle Mo gelding in a one-mile flat allowance on July 9 at Colonial Downs, where he finished third.
This was Smart Uncle's first win since taking a flat maiden special weight last August at Delaware Park, improving his lifetime ledger to 22-5-4-4.
“Smart Uncle is a better horse than I thought he was,” Fisher said. “Roja Redemption, I knew what he is, and I thought he ran great. Smart Uncle ran that other horse (Roja Redemtion) down. They both (Smart Uncle and Fil Dor) ran him down, surprised me."
"The race just set up perfectly for him." said Fisher.
BARGARY settled Smart Uncle in fourth early as seven of the eight contenders raced in a compact group behind the runaway pacesetter Take Your Seats, with positions largely unchanged throughout the first three turns.
“We’ve raced against him quite a bit,” Bargary said of Take Your Seats. “The only worry today was he [jockey Evan Dwan] got a breather into him, but we still got to him and got to racing plenty early enough.”
The race favorite McTigue fell over the last fence while making his move towards the lead..
Roja Redemption held a large lead exiting the final turn with Smart Uncle well clear of St James the Great in third and Fil Dor commencing his run from well back.
Roja Redemption dug in gamely under Freddie Procter, but Smart Uncle wore him down with an outside bid to claim the three-quarter-length victory in a final time of 4:42.76.
Fil Dor, carrying 16 pounds more than Smart Uncle, surged on the inside to claim second by a neck over Roja Redemption.
It was 5 3/4 lengths back to fourth-place Salted Carmel, while St James the Great, L’Avvocato and Take Your Seats completed the order of finish.
McTigue was picked up by the outrider and, per The New York Racing Association, Inc. veterinary department, sustained minor lacerations and was given a precautionary ride back to the barn in the equine ambulance.
Watters visited onsite first aid and walked out under his own power.
Bargary said the trip was ideal for Smart Uncle.
“That went perfectly,” he said. “Exactly how I planned it out last night in bed was how it worked out. Lovely to have a lead turned in and I didn’t go until I straightened up because I knew he had that turn-of-foot. We were plenty confident coming in and super happy that it’s actually come off.”
Fisher said both Smart Uncle and Roja Redemption will now point to the 2 3/8-mile G1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial on Sept. 2at Saratoga.
Second placed Fil Dor, ridden by Conor Tierney, was the high weight in the race at 158 pounds and was giving 16 pounds to Smart Uncle.
“Everything went perfect,” said Tierney. “I was in the perfect spot that I wanted to be in. It is just that he was giving the winner 16 pounds, which took its toll the last couple of strides, but I’m very happy with the run. He was very willing right to the line. I couldn’t be happier with that.”
